Instagram story viewer> @derek_valentine> Posts

derek_valentine

@derek_valentine

1.8K

followers

1240

following

Chicago.
I cook things.
Stay happy be humble.
Come eat our food @mitocaya

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Meet Derek Serrano - CDC at Mi Tocaya Antojería in Chicago.
His Lineup dinner, like his career, is a love letter to his grandmother’s cooking.
“I cook simple food, straightforward, to the heart, just the way my grandmother did.”

If you got a ticket to Derek’s dinner (11/5), we cant wait for you to meet him and try his food. While his dinner is currently sold out, there is a waitlist on the Resy event page (link in bio). Stay tuned for more content about him and our other Lineup Chicago chefs.
 The Lineup Chicago is presented by @resy taken in Mi Tocaya Antojería by @derek_valentine

445

67

a day ago

Tickets are now available for The Lineup dinners in Chicago!

Nov 5 | Derek Serrano, Chef de cuisine at @mitocaya

Nov 12 | Colin McHugh, Chef de cuisine at @oriolechi

Nov 19 | Luis Diaz, Sous chef at @giantchicago

Join each chef for their one-night-only event at @ravenswoodeventcenter. Each dinner will feature a welcome bite and cocktail, followed by a five-course tasting menu with wine pairings included (NA options are available).

Get tickets at our link in bio.

Terms Apply. Must be 21+ to attend. Must be 21+ to drink alcohol. Please drink responsibly. taken in Ravenswood Event Center by @derek_valentine

374

29

15 days ago

Five years of Mi Tocaya Antojeria.
.
.
.
It's wild to think that it's already been five years, and time has flown. We appreciate everyone who has eaten our food and given us all of the love. Support all your local micro and small business!
.
.
.
📸 - 4.19.20 by the lovely @afterthequake taken in Mi Tocaya Antojería by @derek_valentine

391

45

6 months ago

I support the @acluofil because they enforce our consent of decree with the Department of Homeland Security to prevent federal officials from making warrantless arrests of immigrants and they challenge the inhumane & unconstitutional conditions at the Broadview ICE facility. I’m thrilled to join Chef Jason Vincent at the upcoming Celebrity Chef Dinner for the ACLU on Tuesday, January 27th as we gather to support the ACLU’s work to protect civil rights and liberties today and for future generations. To inspire additional support, a generous donor has agreed to match donations made toward the event up to $30,000. Please consider supporting this work athttps://action.aclu.org/give/aclu-next-generation-society-donation-page
PC: @galdophoto by @derek_valentine

186

2

9 months ago

When people come together for their community!

@todosponen_chicago was started by @dianalachef back in 2020! @mitocaya has always put its community first and I'm grateful to be a part of this beautiful organization. Support us by buying tickets to the event on January 19th, 2026. Bring all of your friends and family!
.
.
.
#todosponen #brownanddown #mitocayagang #forusbyus by @derek_valentine

79

1

10 months ago

Mi gente!

Our industry is built on the labor, culture, and care of immigrant communities. Thankful to be participating in Pueblos y Platillos on January 19, raising funds for direct grocery support for immigrant families across Chicago. Proud to be part of this. Visit @todosponen_chicago for tickets and more info.

Link in my bio for tickets!

Come support this beautiful cause. All love. by @derek_valentine

33

2

10 months ago

Love being a part of the @foodandwine familia! This was one of my favorite experiences professionally. This restaurant guide is super fun, delicious and I am muy excited to use in my travels. Here were my picks- please enjoy! Link in bio. Again, muchísimas gracias to F&W for their continued support, amor to all the BNCs and special shoutout to Class of 2018 🫶🏼🌹 taken in Mi Tocaya Antojería by @derek_valentine

103

2

a year ago

Mihcailhuitl aka Dia de Muertos is here.

La muerte no es un final absoluto sino un eslabón que vincula la existencia humana con los ciclos de la naturaleza y los poderes sobrenaturales. Death is not finite but our part of the infinite.

Come by tonight and celebrate with us. Hay muchos antojos (best mole!) mezcal, música y pan de muerto by our friends @lobapastry Bring or we can print a pic here with our fancy app/polaroid. Take part of with us a beautiful indigenous tradition that dates thousands of years. #mihcailhuitl #xandú #díademuertos #culturaindígena taken in Mi Tocaya Antojería by @derek_valentine

126

2

a year ago

In early 2017, Pechungis & I opened Mi Tocaya Antojería. It changed our lives. We put our home, what we had worked so hard to secure for our family on the line for a dream. We may not have had much money but fuck did we have heart. We are a story of blood, sweat and tears. Of joy, passion and dedication. Sharing food that has thousands of years of history has been my honor. Flavors of my life’s most cherished memories. Sabores de nuestra cultura y tierra. But most of all sharing stories of people with people by people thru food, love and respect is what we hold most dear and steers us.

Pechungis and I may have opened Mi Tocaya but everyone who has worked here past and present have contributed to what makes this place so special. Thank you MT Gang. Te lo agradecemos🙏🏼. To all our guests, supporters who keep our doors open and make it all possible for our Antojería, los adoro!! Thank you. And of course, @eater muchísimas gracias. Really, just wow!!!

I know lists always have a way of stirring up feelings and cause some discourse. There are no shortage of beautiful, delicious restaurants, talent, innovative chefs and stories like ours. We really hope not to receive any hate😬 But nonetheless, we are proud to be included in this one and are extremely grateful. It is a tremendous deal for us. And we will continue to work hard & keep dreaming big.

Para toda mi gente latina, ahora más que nunca tenemos que mantenernos unidos, compartir recursos y tomar nuestro espacio que merecemos. Amor y poder a la gente❤️
Thank you by @derek_valentine

86

19

a year ago

Un evento maravilloso! Increíble to have such a fantastic food + beverage community to come together to raise money for @nokidhungrychi Thank you to all who came out to support. We raised mucho dinero. #nokidhungry #todosponen #mitocayagang #forthechildren taken in Rockwell On The River by @derek_valentine

86

1

a year ago

Thank you @nytimes for including us!!! The gang is all smiles here. Stop by this weekend and celebrate with us🫶🏼🫀🌺 taken in Mi Tocaya Antojería by @derek_valentine

154

3

a year ago

Check out @foodnetworkchopped Episode 7 Carnivore Coverter & see chef @derek_valentine throw down with los veggies!! ❤️❤️🔪🔪🌺💐😊🫶🏼🙌🏼👀🧑🏽‍🍳 #mitocayagang #todosponen taken in Mi Tocaya Antojería by @derek_valentine

200

9

a year ago